One estate taken in charge in 10 years

LAST week’s meeting of Kilrush Town Council heard that Moyne Court in Kilrush was the only estate taken charge of by the town council in recent years.

Councillor Tom Prendeville asked that town manager, Anne Haugh report to council members on the name and number of Kilrush estates taken in charge by the town council within the past 10 years. He also asked that the councillors be informed of pending applications from estates to be taken in charge.

“One estate, namely Moyne Court, was taken in charge in April 2005,” Kilrush town clerk John Corry replied.
“There is no record of any other estate taken in charge in the Kilrush area in the past 10 years and there are no applications pending from estates to be taken in charge,” he added.

The town clerk said the council is dealing with a small number of estates that are either unfinished, inadequately completed or not taken in charge.

“This is being progressed through enforcement proceedings. The council is committed to engaging with all the relevant parties to progress the issues that arise on these estates to a satisfactory manner,” the town clerk stated.

“I’m mindful that there is no application for Beal an Inbhir and Woodfield is another one that hasn’t been taken in charge. There’s problems with these estates,” Councillor Tom Prendeville told the meeting.

“As elected members, we meet people living in unfinished estates where roads, footpaths, public lighting, signage and general maintenance works in open spaces are less than satisfactory. It can be difficult to explain that this council is not responsible for the upkeep of estates not yet taken in charge. We all appreciate that this council will not take an estate in charge until it is satisfied that all essential infrastructural facilities and services are up to the mark and that is how it should be done,” Councillor Prendeville added.

He also criticised the prospect of house owners in unfinished estates having to pay a property tax. “Last year, property owners in some unfinished estates were exempted from the €100 Household Charge. However, there appears to be no exemptions for any of these estates in Kilrush in the new Property Tax. I wonder what has changed to warrant these unfinished estates being brought into the family home tax net when no major upgrading works have been carried out over the past 12 months,” the Cappa councillor queried.

In a separate but related motion, Councillor Ian Lynch asked town engineer Derek Troy for an update on the installation of public lighting at Wood View and Cois Na Cé in Kilrush.

“Another winter has passed and these lights have still not been activated,” Councillor Lynch said.